A hundred volunteers participated last Saturday in the 1st SAVE (Sustainability-Action-Volunteering-Environment) University Conference organised by Calpe Town Council and Environmental Volunteering of the University of Alicante together with FASC, ACCIONA, Proyecto Libera Pueblos libres de basuraleza, Club Náutico de Calpee, Dive&Dive, Parcs Naturals, Cruz Roja, Sanamares, De Amicitia, Parque Científico de Alicante, Lankoa and Coastal CleanUp International Project.
Throughout Saturday morning, the volunteers carried out a rubbish collection as part of a research project for the categorisation of waste. An underwater sweep was carried out in the Racó Cove and a land sweep in the Salt Flats and the lower area of the Penyal Natural Park, as well as a "plogging" race, consisting of running while collecting rubbish.
Each participating volunteer filled in a technical sheet on the type of waste collected, which will allow the waste to be categorised and conclusions to be drawn that will be published shortly. At the end of the morning, 800 kilos of waste were counted, mainly rubble but also wheels and plastics.
The collection of data and its analysis transforms the beach clean-up into a research action to find out the types and possible sources of marine litter, so that the participating volunteers become generators of data which is then used by research centres and universities.
The councillor for the environment, Pere Moll, pointed out that "this project appeals to environmental social responsibility in order to generate change. The City Council is committed to environmental education to increase citizens' awareness and knowledge of environmental issues and problems.